"Hi everybody! I’m so happy to be guesting for Scrap Africa. It is fantastic to hear of new exciting scrapping ventures emerging from within the super talent we have here in South Africa. I just know you are going to love these challenges.

I’ve been scrapping for 6 years after being invited to a scrapping 'crop'. I admit I was nervous that day, didn't have the foggiest idea what a 'crop' was. I was pleasantly surprised that beyond the cute products & great coffee was a community of super friendly, creative ladies, many of whom I am still good friends with today. Over the years I have been privileged to design for some fabulous scrapbooking manufacturers & magazines. Currently I am working with Creating Keepsakes magazine as part of their Dream Team for the third year, Fancy Pants Designs for two years & this is my fourth year designing for Cocoa Daisy kits. For me scrapbooking embraces all the things I find beautiful: color, texture, layering & stitching and most importantly helps me capture my life & thoughts in a medium I love.

"My name is Nadia Cannizzo, and I live in Sydney Australia. I was born and raised in Greece and moved to Australia when I was 11. I am a mummy to 2, much loved and much wanted little girls and I have been married to my husband for the last 12 years. I am a Primary School teacher and have been teaching for about 11 years. I have been scrapping/paper-crafting officially for just under 2 years now and in March of 2011 I started my own challenge blog called Once Upon A...Sketch. At present I am on the Design Team for an Australian online store called Handmade By Suzanne. I am SO excited to be here and THANK YOU so very much for inviting me."

To brighten up the papers Svetlana used the doodling technique on this lay-out. Simply use a black pen to outline the paper details on your lay-out. It helps to bring some contrast and makes it more personal.

Jowilna turned the original sketch into a double page lay-out by repeating the left side on the right but using a single photograph. She made the patterned paper from glossy smooth card-stock and distress stains which gives a truly amazing effect. The stars is a resist technique using embossing and distress stains along with perfect pearls mists.